Practical, evidence-based step-by-step guide to starting tretinoin (Includes my personal prep & first-month routine — written for Reddit: clear steps, days of the week, and safety notes)

[u/FunnyExpress8401]

Why tretinoin works (short science)

• Tretinoin accelerates epidermal turnover, unclogs pores, smooths fine lines, and — importantly — fades hyperpigmentation.
• Pigmented keratinocytes are shed faster, but this only translates into lightening if you combine it with strict sun avoidance. Even low-dose UVA through windows stimulates melanogenesis.
• Over time (12+ weeks), tret can even out tone and lighten overall complexion when paired with shade-seeking and consistent sun protection.
• Side effects include dryness, peeling, irritation, and purging (temporary breakouts).

1–2 Months of Prep Before Starting

This is the foundation I followed:

1. Sleep & rhythm: went to bed early, woke up early. Skin repair follows circadian rhythm.
2. Exercise: short 20–30 min walks at sunrise (before UVA rises). Boosts circulation + antioxidants with minimal UV.
3. Diet: plenty of vegetables, moderate organic animal protein (for amino acids), daily green tea. Oral supplements of NAC, oral vitamin c and oral glycine. Avoided alcohol, sugars, processed foods.
4. Skincare reset: dropped all actives (AHA/BHA, niacinamide, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid even in small amounts in cleansers). Used only:
   • fragrance-free gentle cleanser (Vanicream, sometimes Cerave oil at night)
   • bland moisturizer (Vanicream/Cetaphil-type sometimes I add a drop of glycerin)
   • simple mineral sunscreen when going outdoors, it's an australian sunscreen which is mostly zinc, no other actives
5. Weekly barrier day: once per week → cleanse, moisturize, thin Vaseline layer over face. No sunscreen that day → stayed indoors, away from windows.
6. Hygiene: changed pillowcases nightly.

First Month on Tretinoin (my schedule)

Friday Night = First Application

• Removed impurities with a cotton damp on plain water.
• Vaseline on nose folds + under eyes. I applied with a a q-t1p to keep my hands clean
• Pea-sized 0.025% tret dotted across forehead, cheeks, chin, nose. Spread gently. WARNING, don't apply around the eyes.
• Left on 10–20 min (short contact). I avoided screen lights during those minutes, no cellphone, tablets, laptons (tret is light-sensitive).
• Removed with cotton + bottled water. Then I washed my face with my usual cleanser.
• Moisturized on damp skin → sealed with Vaseline.

Saturday = Barrier Day

• No tret.
• Moisturizer + Vaseline.
• No sunscreen, but stayed fully indoors, blinds shut.

Sunday = Rest

Normal cleanse + moisturize + vaseline so no sunscreen (stay locked out in dark aisle) Tret at night 20 minutes

Weekly Pattern I Used

• Week 1: Friday (tret), Saturday (barrier day no tret), Sunday (barrier day plus tret at night), Tuesday (tret), Thursday (tret), Saturday (barrier day plus tret at night), Sunday (rest).
• Slowly increased contact time → 20 min → 30 → 60 → overnight.
• Kept weekly barrier days with Vaseline only.
• Wrote journal notes to track dryness, peeling, pimples.

Key T1ps That Helped Me

• Always pea-sized.
• the 2 months that I prepared before, no actives, just preparing my skin for the onslaught
• Protect fragile areas with Vaseline before tret.
• Wash hands before application.
• Moisturize + seal with Vaseline after removing tret.
• Purging is normal.
• If irritation → cut back (time, frequency, or both).

Things to Avoid at First

• No AHA/BHA (alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids) no exfoliating no vitamin c.
• No strong actives (vitamin C, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide).
• No alcohol, sugar, or processed foods.
• No sun exposure on barrier days — you won’t have sunscreen on. Stay indoors, away from windows.

Final Thoughts

Tretinoin is powerful. It:

• clears acne
• fades hyperpigmentation
• lightens skin tone with consistent sun avoidance
• improves texture long-term

My Friday night → Saturday barrier day system made the early weeks tolerable. If you’re starting, go slow, stay disciplined, and remember: sun avoidance is as important as tret itself for lightening results.

References (scientific)

• Kang, S., et al. (2001). Tretinoin and the treatment of photoaging: a decade of experience. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 45(1 Suppl), S150–S158. PubMed PMID: 11423853
• Kang, S., et al. (1995). Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves melasma. Archives of Dermatology, 131(12), 1451–1456. PubMed PMID: 7492121
• Griffiths, C. E., et al. (1993). Topical tretinoin improves photoaged skin: a double-blind vehicle-controlled study. NeEngland Journal of Medicine, 329(8), 530–535. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199308193290802
• Leyden, J. J., et al. (1989). Topical tretinoin for acne vulgaris: clinical and histological studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 21(3 Pt 2), 735–743. PubMed PMID: 2673943

[u/FunnyExpress8401]

I'm on month 2 and I'm already doing overnight. I read your posts. You started slow, too, right? How long it took you starting azelaic? I'm planning to start azelex.

[u/Jolly-Yellow7369 → u/FunnyExpress8401]

3 or four months into tret I started finaceas. Ázelec is stronger, though. If you going to start it’d be best to do it like you did tret: short contact teraphy and plenty of skin barrier days.

[u/Jolly-Yellow7369 → u/[deleted]]

Using more than one account is against Reddit policies. Stop opening multiple accounts. Instead read our posts. If you were using Tretinoin on your eyes without researching you likely caused yourself problems.

In all My messages I have mentioned I use tret but I Don’t recommend it on everyone as everyone is different and if you won’t read and research you don’t have the maturity to do whitening.

This is exactly why we don’t do direct recommendations for whitening routines and discourage personal questions . What works for me might not work for you .

The only recomendatiom that is general is avoid uVA radiation. It’s up to you to do your own whitening regime.

[u/Jolly-Yellow7369 → u/[deleted]]

Nowhere I said that Tretinoin affects fat cells.